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The holiday season is here and many are planning their holidays to the Far East, Europe and/or USA, lured by a lot of baits offered by various travel agents. Some offer discounts on early bird bookings, some advertise a Europe package for only Rs 66000 with a small note below indicating Rs 20000 extra for visa, Eurostar, etc. and some offer a companion free option, etc. However, most of these packages have guaranteed departures as you will be travelling in a group.
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In fact some of the European group holidays take you to 15 countries in about 16 days and you have to start your day at 0700 hrs or even early on most of the days. At the end of the trip you have seen so much in so less time that too at a fast pace though loaded with excess of attractions that at the end of it, it is not surprising to see that people do not know where they did see the Eiffel Tower or the Black Forest or the
Madurodam. Fortunately one can remember that London Bridge is in London. Secondly, the pace of holiday is such that 65 to 70 per cent of your day you spend in and out of the coaches. Would you call that a holiday where at the end of it you don't know what you saw where and that too with such a tight schedule that you would need a short holiday to recuperate from your 16 days tour? And that was one of the objectives of organizing the “Destination Orientation Programme” to make the holiday makers realize the distinction between a group holiday and a customized one. Where they enjoy the flavour of the country and be with the family for which they get little time in a fast paced city like Mumbai.
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Subhash Motwani, Director Compact Travels, gave the introduction prior to the enlightening journey across Egypt and South Africa. It was heartening to see a good crowd of 70 participants inspite of the fact that the Financial Budget was announced about two days back on 28th February 2005.
Unlike a destination programme which is primarily a sales talk organized by most tour operators, this talk was to create awareness on destinations keeping in mind the intricacies one should get into prior to selecting a tour operator.
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Sanaya Dadachanji, Tour Consultant at COMPACT TRAVELS started the presentation in the company of Amr Elhefny Elfeky, Area Manager Egypt Air along with Magdi, Meher and Neelam from Egypt Air and Farhad Kuka, Western India Sales Manager from South Africa Airways.
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The interesting presentation highlighted what is there to do and see in Egypt with plans from destination specialists Compact Travels and how one should not get carried away by pricing alone whilst selecting a destination. For example the package offered by Compact Travels and comprising of 7 Nights/ 8 Days included 3 nights stay in Cairo, 3 nights of the Nile Cruise and travel throughout by air within Egypt unlike most tour operators who prefer sending people by sleeper train and just offer one night stay in Cairo (instead of 3 nights) and save on hotel cost by including two nights of travel by train .
Before concluding the Egypt presentation, there were a few questions asked on the destination and the ones answering were rewarded with small mementos - courtesy COMPACT TRAVELS.
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The only regret at the end of the presentation was shown by some of the participants who had already booked themselves on an Egypt package through some other tour operator and realized on what they were missing out by not travelling with Compact Travels.
The next interesting presentation was sizzling South Africa. Several misconceptions were clarified including the fact that South Africa is not a destination for wildlife and Sun City only but there are lots of other exciting things to do and see in this wonderful country.
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Starting with Capetown the mother city and amongst the top five preferred destinations in the world, one can see the picturesque and imposing Table Mountain on one side and the bustling V&A waterfront full of fun, food and shopping on the other with excursions from the waterfront to the Alcatraz of South Africa - Robben Island. The advantage of a customized tour is you can include or exclude what you want and that was one of the highlights of the presentation. For example if you want to know about the history of Apartheid you could visit the District Six Museum in Capetown and Soweto, Hector Peterson Memorial as well as the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg.
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Those who want a luxurious and scenic train ride can take the Rovos Rail. You can ride on an Ostrich in Outshoorn or walk along with the Penguins at Boulders' Bay or catch the Tjoe Choe Train for a panoramic ride from Knysna to George or discover how gold was mined at Gold Reef City and many more exciting routes across the country. Around Capetown itself there are exciting detours such as the Garden Route, the Wine Route comprising of Stellenbosch, Franschoek and Paarl., the famous Cape Peninsular Tour upto Cape Point where you see the merging of the Indian and the Atlantic Ocean.
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Compact Travels is one of the few companies specializing in South Africa with Subhash having completed his Fundi (Expert) training and having visited South Africa last year on invitation by South African Tourism as a part of his familarization of the country. The orientation on how to fit in the destinations within your time, budget and interests was followed by questions which once again lead to answers and prizes too.
On conclusion, Mr Elfeky and Mr Kuka shared their viewpoint from the airline perspective and invited the participants to visit the exciting destinations where you can experience a real holiday with total value through Compact Travels.
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The creative team had designed cut outs with which several participants took pictures with to carry back the memories of Egypt and South Africa and the exciting presentation made by the Compact Travels team.
Many were glad to know that besides South Africa, Egypt and Kenya, Compact Travels now also offers customized packages to Australia, New Zealand besides special interest tours to Europe including Austria, Italy and Spain.
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